Chapter One
Amelia sipped her drink and idly scanned the club, smiling and waving at other attendees. It had been six months since she and Jeff had parted ways. She'd retained the membership to the club as finding a new playmate would be safer for her within these confines. The club was like a second home to her; exclusive and fetish-oriented, with a heavy skew toward BDSM.
The lounge was elegant and comfortable; thankfully free of the stereotypical bordello aesthetic. There were of course rooms of varying themes and role play scenarios, both public and private. In addition to the opportunities for play, there were often demos, workshops, and a top-notch bar. For safety purposes, there was a two-drink maximum for alcoholic beverages, and of course a few impressive bouncers wandering about. Amelia felt completely at ease here and over the years had made a few close friends. It was always good to have some friends in the know.
Like Sylvia. Amelia raised an eyebrow at her friend's approach. She had the cheekiest, 'cat-who-got-the-canary' grin on her face. However, before Sylvia could say a word, the fine hairs on Amelia's neck and arms prickled, and she felt a gaze register her presence.
Luc.
It had to be Luc.
Luc was tall, with dark hair sprinkled with grey, and the most captivating eyes; bottle-green and always assessing. From the first time they saw each other at the club there was an indelible pull. They hadn't moved beyond being acquaintances, even now that they were both unattached. Sylvia sensed the attraction from the first and was as puzzled as Amelia as to why he hadn't made a move, now that they were both available. Was it Amelia's occasional inclination to switch from submissive to dominant? If she were honest with herself, she hadn't taken any offers to play and only accepted the most casual of dates in the hopes that something would finally happen with Luc.
Luc stepped up to the bar next to them. He couldn't help but break into a smile at Sylvia's grin, wink, and greeting of, "Hiya Luc, what's up?" Sylvia was utterly irrepressible.
"Sylvia, always a delight. What's up? Perhaps too much lately, but that is no matter. I trust all is well?"
"Of course, Luc. All is right and well. I've got an excellent Sir, who should be arriving soon. What more could a good subby like me want?"
"Good subby?" Luc rolled his eyes. Sylvia was a notorious brat. Still smiling, the full force of those green eyes turned to Amelia.
"Amelia, it is always a pleasure to see you here. You look particularly stunning tonight. Most of the men and several of the women can't seem to keep their eyes off you. Tell me, what is the count of suitors thus far?"
She smirked despite her blush. Clad in her favorite corset, pencil skirt, stockings, and heels, she felt exceedingly confident and sexy tonight. The restricted movement from the tight skirt appealed to her, and of course the constriction of the corset never failed to make her feel like the most alluring courtesan.
"Luc, a pleasure to see you as well," she purred. "I seem to be channelling the full-blown alpha sub, or perhaps my switch is showing. So far only one rather bold submissive has approached me." Amelia tapped her lip and pouted slightly. "I must be losing my touch. It is just as well. There are only a few lately who seem to be able to...command my undivided attention."
His eyes locked on hers, darkened, then flickered to Amelia's full red lips, lingering heatedly, before rising up to meet her eyes again. Luc was about to speak but was interrupted by the club manager and had to excuse himself. She forced herself not to ogle his retreating back. That man. His cologne, his voice, his gaze. His exquisite hands...she was just glad she hadn't gaped like a slack-mouthed idiot.
Sylvia let out a long low whistle. "I'll give you another reason your suitors are spare. He may not have made a proper move on you yet, but the way he looks at you has told anyone paying attention that he has staked a claim. How is it possible that you two haven't gotten together yet? Anyway, OF COURSE he is why I was grinning. I knew he was headed into the lounge and I have some juicy gossip. Apparently, he has a bet with our lovely manager, Jen, and if he loses, he will be up on the block for the charity auction! No one will say what the bet is, either. We just have to wait for the big night."
Each year the club held an auction for various charities. The volunteers would be sold into a service period of twenty-four hours. Participants remained on the premises in one of the available suites for safety, anonymity if preferred, and convenience. Each volunteer presented a bio including relevant partners, limits, and basic background. Submissives or other fetishists were usually the ones on the block, and many subs were sold within existing dynamics. On the night of the auction, they were displayed in accordance with their fetish: nude, bound, in pony/pet gear, the occasional furry. A Dominant on offer was a rarity. Amelia had actually considered volunteering, but just couldn't quite get comfortable with the idea.
"I can't imagine that man losing at anything. It seems a very, very long shot to me."
Chapter Two
The intervening weeks were very busy for Luc. Most of his time was consumed with work interspersed with thoughts of Amelia. If he were honest with himself, this attraction may have been the final straw necessary to end his relationship with Lucy. Beyond Amelia's undeniable physical attractiveness there was a warmth and humor along with her sensuality. Having seen demos with her former partner, she was also exquisite in her submission.
Unfortunately, the break with Lucy was not as clean as he had hoped. However, it was finally done and now he could focus on his courtship of Amelia. Luc wondered if she had volunteered to be auctioned. He was good friends with the manager of the club and despite all of his efforts, Jen would not breathe a word of who the volunteers were. Of course, the point was moot now. He'd lost that damn bet and now he was to be on the block. What in the world would the winner seek from him? He had mentored with a Dominatrix and ascribed to the idea that, as a sadistic Dom and a rigger, he had a responsibility to have a sense of what his actions felt like to his darling submissive. This, however, did not make him a switch.
The weeks leading up to the auction were also very busy for Amelia, so much so that she was barely at the club. Much to her frustration, on those few nights when she was there, she always seemed to miss Luc. Sylvia had nothing to report either. Amelia could not get the idea of Luc on auction out of her mind. If the rumors were true, that he would be up for auction, the thought of someone else winning the time with him was reprehensible. She had a tidy sum that she'd planned to donate anyway. Although Amelia was never one to make the first move, opportunity had forced her hand. To hell with it. If Luc was up for auction hers would be the winning bid. She began to plan.
At last the night of the auction arrived. Amelia dressed carefully: classy seduction was the name of her game. The silk dress highlighted her lush curves while the deep V discreetly displayed the edges of her lace bra, showcasing her ample cleavage. The emerald color of the dress made her hazel eyes glow. Her chestnut hair was loosely pulled back. She chose a lighter hand with her make-up and opted to emphasize her soft lips with a berry color. Amelia took a slow turn in front of the full-length mirror -- she liked what she saw.
The sound of the doorbell startled her; it was Sylvia. Amelia had decided that she did not want to make a solo entrance and had arranged to ride with Sylvia and her partner. Sylvia was stunned speechless for once. Appraising Amelia, Sylvia could tell that her friend was clearly bent on taking prisoners tonight -- at least one in particular.
The club was never so vibrant and exciting as on Auction Night. Amelia was oblivious to the stares and double takes as she walked into the lounge. She exuded a prowling sexuality that was impossible to ignore. Scanning the room, she looked for her prize. Not finding him sent butterflies whirling. Sylvia arrived and handed her a whisky.
"Amelia...are you even listening to us? The bid books will be handed out soon. Sir and I are going to find a sweet little toy to play with! We've been flirting with Amanda and she mentioned 'in passing' that she had volunteered." Sylvia paused to glance around the room. "We will find out soon enough if he is up for auction. Are you really going to bid on him?"
Amelia smiled. "Oh my, yes. And if he is neither here, nor up for bid, perhaps I will bid on some fine submissive male. It would be an utter shame to waste this energy." A murmur of excitement swept the room as staff moved about handing out the bid books. She took a deep breath and paged through.
There it was. His bio. Her knees went weak.
While Amelia was discovering that the game was indeed afoot, Luc stood in the demo room, annoyed. He still could not believe he'd lost the bet. He rarely participated in sports betting, but he was familiar with both competitors in the regional MMA tournament. He had been confident the odds were in his favor, yet here he was getting displayed like a Christmas goose. "Jen. Really. Is this necessary?"
Jen looked up at him, a delighted grin upon her face. Luc continued, the scowl on his face clearly conveying his mood. "I am not stripping nude. And just what do you think you are doing with those cuffs?"
"Of course, you won't be stripping nude, sweetie!" Jen replied. "But we do need a bit of a skin show. Now take off your shirt like a good boy. Leave the belt. You know the subs like a nice thick belt, and you fill out the jeans very well. You're keeping in good shape, old man! Also, this is an auction, and you are firmly in the BDSM category. Arms behind your back. Just a little cuff and tether."
Luc growled. Jen purred. He really did look delicious shirtless in his low-slung jeans and thick brown belt. His chest and shoulders looked amazing with his arms pulled back. She may just bid on him herself if no one else was brave enough to do so. It had been a while since they had last played. The bell tolled, and the volume in the lounge ticked up to a fevered pitch. Jen positioned him so he couldn't see the throng approach. The bidders milled about, discussing the offerings and options. It may have been his glare, but it seemed most eyed him warily from afar. With an exasperated sigh, Luc finally thought to himself,
To hell with it, might as well have a little fun
.
